“You don’t have to do that,” I say, embarrassment heating my face. “They’re just cheap mugs I found in the trash.”
“They’re yours,” she replies simply.
I move to the bed and begin stripping the sheets. Liam’s iPad breaks free from its hiding spot under the pillows. I have to dive for it before it hits the floor. My hands are shaking as I stand there, just holding it.
“This is important,” I whisper, holding back stupid tears.
“I got it.” She slides it from my hands and puts it in her own giant handbag for safekeeping.
My hands pause on the tapestries hanging from the ceiling. I fold my arms across my chest and back up.
“We can take them,” Estelle says, following my gaze. “They roll up small.”
“I can’t.” The lump in my throat is so large it hurts.
“Ash?”
Suddenly my eyes are full of tears and my bottom lip is trembling.
“It’s my nest. I can’t take apart my nest.”
“Okay. We’ll deal with that later.” She rubs my arms until I sniff and nod my head.
For the next few minutes, I stand in the middle of my tiny room while Estelle dances around sorting through my life. Some things she just stuffs into a bag, others she holds up and waits for me to nod or shake my head.
Estelle picks up the half-dead plant by the door and places it on top of the trash.
“No!” I rip it out of her hands and cradle it for a second. My fingers close around cool metal, and I pull Reed’s pocket knife from its hiding place. The dirt falls away as I wipe it on my jeans. It’s not much to look at, but it was his.Thisis my family heirloom.
“My brother’s.” My throat feels tight again.
As we continue packing, a strange feeling comes over me. This doesn’t feel like packing for a sleepover. It feels like an evacuation.
“Estelle, how long am I staying with Tia?”
She straightens, pushing her hair back from her face. “As long as you need. Could be a while.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you’re not coming back here.” Her voice is gentle but firm.
“But Papa will…”
“Your father can’t force you to do anything. You’re an adult. You’re not his property.”
“He won’t let me go,” I whisper. “He’ll come after me.”
Bending to check under the sink, she makes a disgusted noise. “Is there anything else you want from here? Anything we’ve missed?”
“I don’t know what to do about my nest,” I say, miserably.
“I’m not an omega, so I’m not on the same wavelength with stuff like this. Should we ask Bella?”
I nod and she digs in her bag for her phone. Waving it, she nods towards the bathroom.
“I gotta pee. Bella loves it when I text her from the john.” She smiles big and winks at me.
Three duffles and Estelle’s overflowing handbag are in the center of the room. I nudge one with my toe. It’s not even that heavy. My whole life fits into three bags.
